R30 000 – this is the amount that KWV, home to the World’s Best Brandy, and one of the Most Admired Wine Brands in the World, is pleased to add to funds offered to Youth Development in South Africa, following the conclusion of a highly successful auction held by the fundraising project, Chefs who Share – the ART of Giving, on Saturday evening.
Chefs who Share – the ART of Giving, is a project which sees big hearts and big names from art, culinary, corporate and lifestyle circles unite and donate works, funds, experiences and premium products in order to raise funds for South Africa’s youth. KWV, via its online premium offering, KWV Empyrean Collective, was the official wine and spirit sponsor of the project this year. KWV Empyrean Collective also contributed a bottle of its highly collectable KWV Nexus 30-year-old brandy as a coveted auction lot for the project’s official bidding line-up that came under the hammer at the Grand Gala in Johannesburg’s City Hall on Saturday 24 September.
The successful bidder outbid several other eager philanthropists to secure the donated bottle of ‘KWV Nexus’ – the world’s first 30-year-old commercially available potstill brandy – during a live auction during Saturday night’s events. Aptly, the Nexus name means the highest point of a connection, and it is an exceptional Potstill brandy, handcrafted in small batches at the KWV cellars in Paarl using a blend ranging in age from 30 to 42 years old. A limited release brandy, KWV’s Master Distiller Pieter de Bod oversees each step to ensure the product is exquisitely crafted so that uncompromised purity and handcrafted quality is captured in every drop – it is one of SA’s most sought-after brandies and exclusively available through KWVEmpyrean.co.za.
KWV Marketing Director De Bruyn Steenkamp adds, “Brandy, of course, is meant to be enjoyed and the KWV Nexus takes this a few steps further – with the expert design and craftsmanship of the artwork that is its packaging, all the senses are truly engaged. We are proud that we made the KWV Nexus, but knowing that the funds from this particular sale will go towards bettering the lives of young people in South Africa, adds even more satisfaction. We are humbled and proud to contribute to the country’s future through our heritage, KWV Brandy.”
The rich golden amber liquid has a sweet strawberry jam, honey, dried orange peel and green pepper corn nose, which is well balanced with cinnamon, macadamia nuts and a smoky aroma complimented by old woody tawny port flavours. A well balanced brandy, it has a long finish with notes of spices, caramelized fruit and roasted coffee beans.
KWV Nexus comes in an exquisite hand-blown bottle crafted by internationally acclaimed glass artist David Reade. Each individually crafted bottle is sealed with a handmade Baltic amber stone set in copper by award-winning jewellery designer Maike Valcarcel. The outer casing, handcrafted from wood, represents the culmination of a journey of unsurpassed craft, patience and attention to detail.
KWV Empyrean Collective is a high-end, super premium online store owned by KWV, and houses an extensive collection of KWV’s top-tiered wine, brandy and spirit ranges, as well as limited release, rare and vintage collectables, not available for purchase elsewhere – and those who would like to purchase their own bottle of KWV Nexus can do so by visiting www.kwvempyrean.co.za.
